Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Mentioning that night she got drunk, Leda touched her nose with a hint of embarrassment.

"It was all my mom's fault, insisting I attend this so-called youth mixer. It was basically a speed dating dinner in disguise."

The young men and women were like items on display, laid out for selection.

Nola was great in every way, except for being a bit of a worrywart.

Going on about how 'unequal matches never work out' and 'love can't survive on empty pockets,' blah blah blah...

Leda was over it.

After the last visit home, she laid down the law with Nola: she could consider matches of similar social standing, but the final choice was hers to make.

In return, Nola had to swear off arranging any more blind dates or mixers behind her back.

Roseanne: "Choose for yourself?"

"Yeah, as long as the guy's family isn't broke, my mom's cool with it. Easy, I'll just pick from our circle!"

"You're really going to pick?"

Roseanne blinked.

Leda had a thing for "younger charmers," but to find one among these men who would dote on her, pamper her, and treat her like a queen... that seemed nearly impossible.

Coming from privilege, they all had an extra layer of pride. We're all from influential families; why should I, a grown man, lower myself to woo you?

Leda coughed softly, lowering her voice, "I have to choose, or I can't face my mom. But I'm not picking a date; I'm picking a business partner." "A business partner?"

"Yeah, there are plenty of us in our circle being pushed into marriage. Since none of us want to follow our families' plans, why not team up?" ""How does that work?"

"We put on a show in public, pretend we're together, and then do our own thing in private!"

That way, they could keep their families off their backs without the constant nagging, while still enjoying their freedom on the side. A win-win. Roseanne still urged her to think it through, not to get carried away.

Leda: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

As they were finishing up, Roseanne seized the moment when Leda went to the restroom to pay the bill.

As they headed out, Leda pouted, "I said it was my treat, why did you go and pay?"

Roseanne: "I can't let you foot the bill every time. I'm not broke, you know."

"Right, my little heiress."From NôvelDrama.Org.

Saying so, she reached out to pinch Roseanne's cheek.

"Ouch-don't pinch, it hurts. Keep your hands to yourself in public, it's not a good look."

The two girls laughed their way through the lobby, heading out.

"Mr. Reynolds, a moment, please."

That call made them both halt and instinctively look in the direction of the voice.

A group emerged from an upstairs private room, mostly middle-aged some with streaks of gray, neady all dressed in polo shirts with chinos-a scholarly vibe all around.

The young man at the center of attention stood out distinctly.

Tall and handsome, he was a stark contrast to the surrounding crowd of middle-aged men.

"Mr. Reynolds, I'm counting on your support for my new project."

"And I'll need your help with ordering lab supplies."

"Our lab's grant application needs your backing..."

The crowd swarmed him with requests and pleasantries, creating quite the scene.

Owen responded to each, though impatience flashed in his eyes. Suddenly, his gaze swept over the lobby, settling on the two girls.

In the next moment, his expression softened.

"Apologies, everyone, but my sister is waiting for me downstairs. I must

bay going. Till next time."

With that, he excused himself from the lingering crowd and strode towards Roseanne and Leda.

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